Thursday, October 19, 2006

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and the Lolo National Forest have again agreed to a limited mountain lion hunt in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area.

The hunt, scheduled to begin the second week of December, started in 1998 as part of an effort to reduce mountain lion encounters in the north Missoula area.

Hunting will be open Monday through Thursday beginning Dec. 11, and only non-lactating adult females and sub-adults will be harvested. No commercial hunting or outfitting is allowed, and only one hunter and houndsman will be permitted in the area at a time.

Hunters will be selected through a drawing conducted by FWP. Those interested must apply by Nov. 17 at the Missoula FWP office or through mail by sending their name, address, phone number and lion license number to FWP, 3201 Spurgin Road, Missoula, MT 59804. Mail must be postmarked no later than Nov. 17.

Successful applicants will be notified by phone the last week of November. All Rattlesnake lion hunters will be required to attend an orientation session prior to the hunt.